school labours. We must all in our respective stations do what in us lies to ensure the return, at the next election, of members who are essentially Protestant. There is no saying what a new Parliament may effect. The Premier has carried his measure against the voice of the nation, which he haughtily sets at naught; and against a majority of his own wonted supporters. It is right, therefore, that the nation should express its voice in Parliament, and that its sentiments should be duly and honestly represented by its members.

No consideration of private esteem, or excellence of general character, must weigh in our selections. We are arrived at a grand crisis when the imminent danger of our dearest interests demands a prompt and uncompromising line of conduct. We may fail, because it is God's will that we should, as a church and a nation, fall; but when the hour of darkness comes, it will be some relief to think that we have had no share in that which hastened it, but to the very last protested against error, and showed that we valued our civil and religious privileges by resisting every plausible and insidious measure which brought them into jeopardy.

It is far from our wish to recommend the Teachers of our land to become busy party politicians. It is solely a religious question with which we have to do, and it is only in a religious point of view that we suggest the necessity for all to be duly discharging their responsible duties at this fearful crisis. We must watch our spirit, and take care that we exercise meekness and charity towards those who differ from us. It is for truth that we must be valiant, not for party. It is against Popery that we wage our war, not against Papists; principles, not men. And the best way to guard against all that would be wrong in spirit, is to do all in prayer. Oh! if we can only cultivate a habit of penitent, self-abasing, importunate prayer, we shall not greatly err. He on whom we throw ourselves, will bless us with his wisdom, love, and faithfulness. Our path shall be as the shining light, which shineth more and more; and though it have to pass through the thick darkness, it will not fail to light us to that peaceful world where the Lamb is the light thereof.

FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE.

THE girls department of the Sunday-school with which I am connected, numbers about fifty Teachers; and as we have (at least for the present) no Teacher's meetings, very little intercourse is enjoyed amongst us, and there is a want of union in feelings and sentiments much to be deplored, while the deficiency of some of the Teachers is truly sad.

May I be permitted, through the medium of this valuable publication, to speak a few words of kindly exhortation, as our different spheres in society, my own deficiency, and other considerations, forbid my addressing you personally? I do not pretend, dear friends, to dictate to you several amongst you are older in years, and wiser in Christian experience; but you will bear with me while I trace out very briefly the character of some among you who have need to look into their ways. We have a number of grown-up girls, who, being just freed from school discipline, and others still under tuition, have each a class. In one boarding school which comes under my observation, the highest aim of the young ladies is to have a class; the governess, a Teacher herself, applauds their motives, they apply to the superintendent, and a certain number of young children are confided to their care. Now it is not with your youth that I find fault, but with your unfitness for duty. A youthful Teacher may be of essential service, and some valuable labourers are placed at the head of a class on ceasing to be pupils. I grant that your children are young, but they are not the less susceptible to religious impressions: you require them to repeat portions from Scripture, verses of hymns, or line upon line of tedious spelling; and you

are highly gratified if they can read through a whole chapter, be it long or short: but as the time allotted to Sunday-school labour is so limited, would it not be better to strive to affect the heart, rather than heap upon them head knowledge? The time is so short, that it would be desirable for them to learn to read elsewhere; and since we have a national school, it is not necessary to devote too much time to it: as to reading a whole chapter, it is quite impossible for young children to remember it; let them only read a few verses at a time, and explain them in a simple manner; talk them over, and question them upon them; tell them of their simple state by nature, and of the love of Christ in the redemption of the world; do not use studied language, but talk in a friendly way: you must fix their attention, or else they will get tired and inattentive.

I can fully enter into our superintendent's motives for confiding unto you a charge so important: children are pouring in, and there is a lack of Teachers; let us hope that our new pastor, in whom rest our most sanguine expectations, will be led to commence some course of instruction for us, so that guided by his counsel, we may all come unto the source of true knowledge, and no longer be found each teaching what is right in her own eyes, but rather all conform unto the same course of instruction. You have all been confirmed, and taken upon yourselves your baptismal vows; act, I beseech you, up to your high privileges; be no longer content with the outward form of religion, but make a sincere surrender of your heart unto God, and pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

Another class of Teachers I would address, and with the utmost deference, as some amongst them are greatly my superiors, and I would say to them, how can your heart be in the work, after the dissipation of the past week, and the anticipated gaieties of the next? "How can you serve God and Mammon?" After the weeks' immersion in the pleasures and vanities of the world, how can you consistently, the Bible in hand, teach those committed to your care, that they must renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil? Perhaps one of you has

attended a ball; another less favoured in point of rank, a dance; a third has joined a card table; you have all acted according to the different opportunities placed within your reach: if you are sufficiently candid, you will acknowledge that I am not exaggerating, but stating plain facts. Oh! better would it be for you to serve the world more devotedly, than thus reconcile the service of Christ and Belial. You have, during the week, studied the fashions and customs of the world, and come decked out in gaudy, useless finery. Children are peculiarly susceptible to consistency, and, seeing your fickleness, are led to despise you. Whilst you are attempting to instruct them, they are noticing whatever you may chance to have on, which they have not seen before; perhaps secretly coveting what excites their admiration. As your heart is not in the work, you are languid and tired, and scarcely know what to say. After the formal repetition of the collect, the lessons you had appointed on the previous Sunday, and the reading of a chapter by rote, the children get inattentive and restless, and no wonder, for they are not interested in the subject; you long for school to be over, that you may join your frivolous acquaintances; you are then no longer at a loss what to say, but talk freely on subjects uppermost in your unconverted hearts. Thou sayest, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Pray for the influences of the Holy Spirit to transform and sanctify your hearts; that "old things may be passed away, and all things become new."

But some there are who are walking in the narrow path, and are truly anxious for the eternal welfare of those committed to their care. Will such attend to a few words of friendly exhortation? You are

seeking too exclusively the praise of man; you are too conscious of your superiority over more disqualified Teachers. I grant that you are more capable of teaching than many others: but it is quite unbecoming for you to say any thing on the subject: you are to labour with a single eye to the glory of God.

Again, when our pastor comes round, do you not feel anxious to secure his observation? to be noticed and spoken to? I appeal to your hearts and consciences, is not this the case? I presume, also, that you do not always come duly prepared with what you intend to teach. I am willing to hope, that you never leave home without engaging in earnest prayer for the Lord's blessing; but I have seen you come, whether habitually or accidentally, I know not, without having looked over the reading lesson you meant to give. Now whilst you turn over the leaves of your Bible, the children get inattentive, and it is difficult afterwards to fix their attention. Let me suggest, that it is an excellent plan for a Teacher to read over what she has to expound, on Saturday evening, finding out texts to bear upon the subject, and praying for the Lord's blessing: on the Sabbath morning rise early, and again direct your thoughts to the subject; pray for each child under your care, for your fellowlabourers, your pastors, and for a blessing upon public worship.

O dear friends, may the Lord bless us all abundantly; may He have mercy upon our negligences and ignorances, and give unto us all the teaching which we so greatly need! Oh! that He would come down and visit his vineyard. Then shall the desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose. SONELLA.

ON INDIVIDUAL COUNSEL TO SUNDAY

SCHOLARS.

DEAR FRIENDS AND FELLOW-LABOURERS,-I have often thought how much more interested we feel in whatever is addressed to ourselves personally, than in the same information when given generally; and I think if we apply this principle to our Sunday-school teaching, we shall be much more likely to make an impression, than by confining ourselves to general addresses. There are times in which we are all more open to impressions than at others; and if we are-as all Teachers ought to beacquainted with the family circumstances, natural tempers,